The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1887-01-13
marked Sinclair, tugging tiercely at his

marked Sinclalr, tugglnS nerceIy at his
mustache.
And the minute Dick was out of sight
he made the best of his way back TO the
lodge in the vast wilderness, where
Minnie was still swinging gracefully
in the hammock. and Barbara was
just taking the raspberry-pie out of the
oven.
Il thought I'd come back" said he.
''Wentworth took a fancy to 90 down
that queer old road that leads through
the woods. What for, | can't imagine,
unless it was to break up our tcte-a-tcte.
And"
Minnie sprang out of the hammock.
Not the old road by the brooke" said
she.
"Why, of course. What other old
road is there?' said Tom, staring.
Didn't | tell ynu?' shrieked Minnie,
"that the old road wasn't safe? That
nobody ever travelled it now. on ac-
count of the quaking morass that swal-
lowed up wagon and two horses,
three years agO?'
''Of course you told me-" said Sim
clair, turning lividly pale. ''But swear
TO Heaven l never thought OF it from
ln3L moment 10 tnlS.
1T looks exactly like the rest of the
road erred Minnie, wringng her
hands. No one would ever suspect
what Il death-trap it was until YOU step
directly upon it, And them Oh,
run after him, Mr.. Sinclair!'
Don't lose a secondr' gasped Bar
bara. Take Il hatchet with you, to
cut the branches of trees! Take Il coil
of rope! Oh. my goodness, ut this very
second he may be sinking out of the
worldr'
Sinclair's face was blanched as he
glanced from one to the other.
In the midst of his terror and genu-
inc sympathy he could not but think:
''She loves him after all. | have not
the ghost of II chance!"
He caught up the hatchct which the
trembling little Barbara brought him,
and tiinging the coil of clothes-line
around his neck, started Off in Il run in
the hope of ovcrtaking Wentworth be-
fore he had reached the fatal spot
But the effort was useless. As he
pressed on beneath the swamp-likc
density of the old trees. he caught sight
of his former rival, already knee-decp
in the treachcrous quagmire over
which Il veil OF soft green grass and
wild ferns had grown luxuriantly. us if
to conceal its very existence from the
unwary traveller - and shouting des-
perately for help.
Hold on 4 minute!' bawled Tom. as
he chopped vigorously away ut a slim,
;all-growing young birch tree. Ill
ding this tree across that death-trap.
Hold on to it until cut another
And by dint of constructing an impor-
tune raft of elastic young sapIings
across that hidden chaSm. aud himself
venturing across Them, he succeeded in
dragging Dick out before it was too
late, and both stood for second gaz-
ing with deathly-pale faces at the raft
itself as it gradually settled down,
down, down into the morass, until
only the velvet-soft grass and the nod-
ding arum-leaves were left above the
surface.
Wentworth wrung Toms hand
old fellow" said he. You have
saved my life. can't describe nv feel
iugs Just now. 1t was as if the hand of
some unseen monster We're gripping at
nv heels and drawing me down TO
death. 1t was like being swallowed up
alive After this I'll 90 away /
won't remain to interfere with your
chances"
but you shall remain" said Tom.
Here she comes now. She shall decide
for herself. Do you take me for an in.
grate?'
1t was true. Minnie, flushed and
lovely from the haste she had made.
now arrived nj the scene. with little Bar
bara close behind.
"He is all right" said Tom.
''He has saved NV life!' shouted Dick
He deserves the richest reward that
man can receive. i resign all claims
in his behalf"
..Nonsenser said Tom, looking su-
premely uncomfortable. ''If it hadn't
been for my carelessness and stupidity
YOU never would have been in such a
bad plight"
Minnie turned rose and white by
turns She looked imploringlv at
Dick, she looked wisfuily at Tom, aud
then she put out her hands to the lat
ter.
You are his prescrver," she said
almost in 4 sob. mo reward can be
too great for YOU. lift a lfetime's de-
votion can atone to you for this noble
wife, dear, dear Toni
Hold on-hold onr' said Mr.. Sim
clair. Were all at cross-purposes here.
It's Dick that proposed this bargain
not me-.
Don't you adore her?" said Dick re-
proachfully.
Not IL bit of it." said Tom. ''She's
very nice girl; but it's Barbara that
I'm after"
''Barbarar' echoed Dick. ''Why the
deuce didn't you say so beiore?"
Isn't it she that you're in love
with?" demanded Tom, with some sur
prise.
No; it's Mnnier
Then why on earth couldn't YOU
have spoken out?n irately demanded
Sinclair ''Hore we both have been
frantically Jealous of one another with
out a particle of cause"
And Minnie West flying into the
arms of her rescued hero. cried out:
And | can love Dick, after all. with
out feeling myself to be Il serpent of in
! gratitude"
! As for little Barbara, she said nothing
| at all, except that her eyes We're full of
! limpid. deep sparkling happiness.
/ Only to think" said Minnie, when
/ she had had time properly to consider
! the question, ''that Barbara won't be an
! old maid after all! But was willing 10
sacrifice myself to Tom, after all. Now
wasn't | ?"
But he didn't want the sacrifice. >
demurely spoke Barbara. Il think
that is, it seems to me-tnat he's very
well satisfied rs it is.
Which, to beautiful, self-apprcciatiye
Minnie, was the strangest thing ut ali.